Chidambaram Says Govt. Mulling Partial Pullout of Forces from Valley: Reports

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram Friday said the government was considering a partial pull-out of paramilitary forces from the Kashmir valley as well as the vacation of houses and land occupied by the army, say media reports.

The statement comes a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered peace talks to separatist leaders.

‘We have identified a number of issues on which follow-up action is being taken by the central government and the government of Jammu and Kashmir,’ Chidambaram was quoted as saying in the national capital.

Clarifying his statement, Chidambaram described ‘issues’ as ‘withdrawal of some paramilitary battalions and vacation of occupied houses and land by the army and paramilitary’.

Not discounting differences of opinion within the government on the matter, Chidambaram said: ‘There are different opinions. And they will be reconciled and the decision taken in appropriate cabinet committees. Everybody doesn’t need to have the same opinion on issues.’

He said the central government was keen to transfer more responsibility to the Jammu and Kashmir police and strengthening its training.

the comments come after the prime minister said in Srinagar Thursday that the responsibility of maintaining law and order ‘will increasingly fall on the Jammu and Kashmir police’.

Meanwhile in Srinagar, chairman of Hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Friday said “I am not against the dialogue process. I have kept my doors open for a meaningful dialogue aimed at finding the resolution of Kashmir issue through UN resolutions.”

Gilani was addressing addressing a public meeting at Baramulla.